Over the past six weeks, North County Daily Star readers have had the privilege of traveling alongside veteran and journalist T.R. Robertson as he documented his Honor Flight San Diego journey through firsthand accounts, personal reflections, and photographs from every step of the experience.
In this sixth and final installment, Tom shares the closing chapter of that remarkable journey, from the Tour of Honor dinner and departure from Washington, D.C., to the unforgettable welcome home awaiting veterans in San Diego. It is a fitting conclusion to a series that has not only chronicled an incredible trip but also honored the service and sacrifice of the generation that helped shape our nation.
Honor Flight San Diego Once Again Provides Memories for Veterans
Part 6 – “Tour of Honor” Final Dinner, Departure and The Arrival Home
By TR Robertson
Once again back on the buses, we left the National Mall for the drive back to BWI Hilton. Arriving at the hotel we had a little time to go to our rooms before heading down to the Ballroom for the “Tour of Honor” Saturday Departure Dinner.
Holly Shaffner, Honor Flight San Diego Vice Chair and Director of Public Relations and Dave Smith, Founder of the San Diego Honor Flight Hub, once again welcomed the veterans and guardians and said they would be going over the details for departure later in the program. Pha Le, a Guardian, was introduced to lead the group in the National Anthem and Jeff Summerhays, a Vietnam Veteran gave the Invocation. Dinner was served then Keynote Speaker Captain Steve “Shep” Shepard, USN (Ret.) was introduced.
Capt. Shepard is a 31-year veteran of the U.S. Navy serving in a variety of senior leadership and executive level positions around the world. He served on seven aircraft carriers, was a career intelligence officer, information warfare commander and joint military intelligence training commander. “Shep” was the Navy’s first Information Warfare Commander on the USS Abraham Lincoln for a 10-month deployment. He is a longtime volunteer as an Honor Flight Guardian and has been a keynote speaker for 24 Honor Flights since 2012. “Shep” also serves as a volunteer for the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring Valor and is the Commander of American Legion Post 35.
“Shep” began by thanking the Honor Flight Staff and Guardians for all their hard work. He thanked the veterans for the sacrifices they have made over the years and welcomed the Vietnam Veterans back home. It was pointed out that from the 16.4 million Americans who served in WW II only 45-70,000 are still alive and need to be honored for their service and sacrifice. He said he hoped each veteran stopped and reflected on the cost of freedom at the various memorials they were taken to today. Some of the veterans in attendance on this tour were recognized, such as WW II vet Bill Martin, the five nurses on this trip, Oliver Johnson who has had over 6 decades of service, the Fisher brothers, and Frank “Pappy” Schluntz. “Shep” directed everyone’s attention to the flag on the stage, telling everyone that this flag was from “Pentagon East” 61 years ago and was taken in 1975 when the United States was evacuating Vietnam. He then said there were 26,000 casualties in Iwo Jima, where a U.S. flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi. “Shep” then read part of a sermon that was delivered on Iwo Jima that spoke about the true cost of freedom when serving the country the flag represents. He finished by saying that for 250 years members of the military have been paying the price of freedom and this is something the veterans should never forget.
Holly and Dave returned to the podium. Those in the audience were reminded that there are 50,000 Vietnam veterans in San Diego County alone with currently 700 of them waiting to go on an Honor Flight trip. We were also reminded that volunteers and donors are always needed to support the work Honor Flight does. Along with this our departure info was discussed including getting to breakfast at 6:30 am, dropping luggage off by 8:00 am, returning all-wheelchairs to the lobby, boarding the buses by 8:00 am to arrive at BWI Airport by 8:30 am so we would board Alaska Airlines Flight 9667 by 10:00 am. Everyone was reminded to wear their Honor Flight San Diego T-shirts for the arrival in San Diego.
It must have been a sleepless night for many as Sunday morning many veterans were already downstairs in the lobby before 6:00 am. The Ballroom doors were open, and the coffee pots were a popular first stop for many. At the table where we sat, I met, for the first time on the trip, Byron Klemaske Sr. (veteran – age 97), Byron Klemaske II (guardian), and Byron Klemaske III (who had surprised his dad and flew in from Las Vegas). Byron Sr. has been married for 74 years. Byron II had sent an email to the President inviting him to attend the Honor Flight 2026 dinner and he proudly showed me a letter he had received from the President’s Office, politely declining the invitation but thanking him for the invite and wishing all of the veterans well and hoping they had a meaningful and enjoyable experience in Washington.
As time for departure approached, we lined up according to our team colors and waited until we were told to board our bus. Little traffic on the freeway made for a quick trip to the BWI Airport. Keeping our groups together we walked to TSA security check-in. Getting through this, it was to Gate D-22 where we waited until told to move Gate D-10. So, off we went to D-10, following our guardians. We were scheduled for an 11:00 am departure. Interestingly, we heard that Spirit Airline had completely shut down that morning. Parked close to our flight was a Spirit Airline plane. After a little bit of a delay, we started boarding. Honor Flight San Diego Board Member Saundra Cima, a former United Airline stewardess, helped direct the vets and guardians to their seating areas. As he passed by veteran Ted Parsons handed out Freedom Bells cards encouraging people to ring bells at noon on July 4th in celebration of Americas 250th Anniversary. Go to www.FreedomBells.org for more information. Prior to departure, “Shep” Shepard spoke to everyone, led the group in a prayer and told the vets to “keep telling the story of your past”. He finished with “Never Forget – Shep Out”. Alaska Airline pilot Captain Kevin, a 23-year Air Force veteran, welcomed all on board and said the flight would take about 5 hours 23 minutes. The anticipated arrival time was 1:17 pm San Diego time. We would actually land closer to 2:00 pm. In the magazine pockets of our seats was a brochure from Alaska Airlines saluting the veterans and some information about their involvement with Honor Flight. Alaska Airlines has flown 90+ Honor Flights since 2012. They have flown 5,000+ veterans during that time. They fly Honor Flight vets, guardians and Honor Flight staff for all Honor Flight Network flights. The planes used by Alaska Airlines have special decals, medallions and striping on the plane along with the large statement, “Honoring Those Who Serve”.
Waiting for us in San Diego at Terminal 2, Baggage Claim 1, were hundreds and hundreds of family members, friends, past Honor Flight participants, veterans, active-duty personnel, Honor Flight staff and volunteers and media. Many of the people came with signs, banners, and dressed in patriotic clothing lining the area from the escalator down the terminal to Baggage Claim 1. Patriotic music would be playing as the large crowd waited for our arrival. I had the honor of attending last year’s Honor Flight arrival and covering the flight for the online papers I write for. The event is an amazing, spirited, patriotic spectacle and very emotional for the vets arriving as they walk through the large crowds who formed a tunnel for the vets. Lots of salutes, hand shaking, hugging, high fiving, tears, and much more as each vet and their guardian walked down the human tunnel. This year I would be both covering the event as a reporter and experiencing the event as a veteran.
Landing and taxing to our gate, the anticipation was growing. As we pulled in several of the airports fire vehicles had lights flashing, welcoming the vets on their arrival. Arriving at the gate, Holly Shaffner, Dani Miskell from Channel 10 and myself were allowed to exit the plane first to set up for coverage of the veterans as they entered the Terminal area. In the Terminal we saw a row of sailors, set up on both sides waiting for the first set of veterans to enter the Terminal. Along the stairs, next to the escalator, was another row of military personnel and veterans in uniform, also waiting to honor the veterans as they went down the escalator or down the elevator to hundreds and hundreds of people waiting to cheer and greet the returning veterans. Looking down from the arrival area, you could see this large crowd waving signs, flags, banners and ready to greet the veterans. Patriotic music was playing and the atmosphere was contagious. The first veterans to appear were those vets that needed wheelchair assistance. As the crowd began to see the veterans, the noise of applause and cheering grew. The veterans began to file down the tunnel that was waiting for them below with people cheering, waving signs and flags and waiting to shake the vet’s hands and say “Thank you for your Service” or “Welcome Back” over and over. The vets and guardians that were walking began to appear and descend down the escalator. The smiles on their faces were amazing. The veterans would wave to the crowd as they came down the escalator and fist bump or shake hands as they made their way down the human tunnel. The gifts each veteran received at the end of the tunnel were a fitting culmination to a great weekend. We loved the red, white & blue blanket and who doesn’t like Girl Scout cookies. Also special Thank You to Operation Gratitude for the array of gift items they provided.
Looking back on what Frank Alessia said in Part 1 of the story of Honor Flight San Diego 2026, “It is finally great to be welcomed back”. It was a wonderfully incredible feeling to see and take part in Honor Fight San Diego 2026. A special thank you for a job well done to Dave Smith and Holly Shaffner and all the Honor Flight San Diego staff and guardians each and every time they take veterans to Washington, D.C. The whirlwind experience is an extremely coordinated, meticulous journey for the veterans and the memories will stay with each veteran forever. Honor Flight San Diego is always in need of financial support, donors and volunteers. If you can help defer any part of the $310,000 cost of each Honor Flight San Diego trip, go to www.honorflightsandiego.org to apply as a volunteer, guardian or find out information about donating. If you are a veteran who served in the military between 1941-1975 or a veteran from any era who has a terminal illness you can apply to go on an Honor Flight trip. This “Trip of a Lifetime” is one you will never forget.
Editor’s Note:
As we conclude this six-part Honor Flight San Diego series, we extend our sincere thanks to T.R. Robertson for taking North County Daily Star readers on this unforgettable journey. Through his firsthand accounts, photographs, and personal reflections, Tom gave our community a meaningful look at the Honor Flight experience and the veterans it serves.
Honor Flight San Diego is dedicated to transporting America’s veterans to Washington, D.C., free of charge to visit the memorials built in their honor. As our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, we encourage readers to support this incredible mission by volunteering, donating, serving as a guardian, or helping an eligible veteran apply.
